Outlet box for a gas cock



Nov. 7, 1939. E L R 2,179,416

OUTLET BOX FOR A GAS COCK Filed Sept. 13, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor HERMAN E. MALE/4R,

A itorngys Nov. 7, 1939 5 MALEAR 2,179,416

OUTLET BOX FOR A GAS COCK Filed Septv 13, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor -4 HERMAN E. MALE/4R,

Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES rAE uau OUTLET BOX son A GAS coon Herman E. Malear, Cleburne, Tex.

Application September 13, 1938, Serial No. 229,747

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to a safety style shielding and closing outlet box for a gas cook, and the principal object is to provide an efiicient and satisfactory protective enclosure of a form and style capable of being installed flush with a floor, wall board or the like.

Under ordinary installation conditions, the gas Valve provided with its hose, receiving portion is allowed to project beyondthe supporting surface,

such as the wall or wallboard, and it is apparent that it becomes a constant source of danger and annoynce for it is often struck when furniture is moved or when the floor is mopped or swept and is often struck by the foot or ankle of an occupant of the room in which the valve is installed. It is apparent that the valve could easily be damaged under these conditions and that the gas could very readily be accidentally turned on.

Further it is to be noted that a projecting valve of this type is an attraction to small children who, in playing with it, could easily turn on thegas. g

This invention is designed to overcome the above noted defects, and objects of this invention are to provide a housed type gas valve which may be mounted in a wall and may extend through the wallboard and may be covered by a face plate or finishing plate without having any protruding parts. i

Further objects are to provide a construction as outlined hereinabove, in which the face plate is providedwith a cover which may be opened to provide access to the valve, and which when so opened enables the operator'to open the valve by manipulating a lever or other member accessible from the front of the face plate, preferably at a point remote from the cover, the invention, however, contemplating automatically locking the valve in closed position until the cover has been opened. This invention, therefore, provides additional safety for, although the opening of the cover discloses thegas valve, such valve cannot be operated by reaching through the opening uncovered by the cover, but has to be operated from a point remote from the cover.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like details throughout the views: r Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved outlet box showing it mounted fiush in the socalled wallboard.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. i t

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical or transverse central section on the line l-t of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail section on the line, 5-45 of Figure 1.

In the drawings, particularly Figures 1 and 2, it will be observed that the wallboard is indicated by the character A, the quarter-round or molding at B, and the wall or other suport at C. The gas supply conduit including the customary adapter elbow,is denoted by the character D; These parts are all conventional. The outlet box, of appropriate material, is distinguished by the numeral 6 and this is mounted in the associated openings in the wall board and wall, the open outer side thereof being substantially covered by a finishing or face plate l. The valve t is provided with an outlet portion or hose re ceiving portion 9 and with a rotary valve stem ii The valve is positioned within the box (5 and is connected to the elbow D. The valve steam is provided with a screw-threaded socket ll which receives the adjusting screw if, the screw constituting in effect a crank. It is to be noted from reference to Figures 3 ands that the valve and its associated parts are enclosed within the box 6 and also that the next is a continuous structure having an open front flush with the wallboard and consequently will prevent leaking gas, in the event a leak occurs, from finding its way into the space between the walls. As the box has continuous rear, top and side walls, it is obvious that lie. leak should occur, the gas would be discharged outwardly from the front face of the box as there are suificient openings in the face plate to allow for the escape of gas into the room instead of allowing dangerous accumulation of gas between the walls in the The face plate is centrally apertured to accommodate a lid or cover I3, this being hinged or pivoted from the interior of the box as indicated at the point It. An indentation l5 adjacent the free swingable marginal edge serves to permit convenient opening of the lid with the finger. A larger depression or finger recess E6 in the plate serves to accommodate a finger grip ll carried by the operable end of a lever, that is, an operating lever is for the valve. The lever works in an appropriate accommodation slot 59 in the face plate. On its inner side the lever has an eye or lug 2E] cooperable with the head 25 of the crank-forming screw i2. Thus the lever can be grasped and turned from the flush closed position in Figure 3 to the dotted line valve opening position there seen. Attention is called to Figure 5 showing an integral arm 22 carried by the upper hinged edge portion of the movable cover. This is provided on its upper end with a detent 23 cooperating with an accommodation slot 2 3 in the Valve control lever. The idea is to lock the lever in closed position when the lid is also closed. This makes it necessary to first open the lid to attach the hose to the jet 9 before the lever can be operated to open the valve. This is a highly desirable safety feature, as is obvious.

By way of summation, attention is called to the following general resume:

Advantages: Decorative appearance over types of gas jets or connections now generally used, as this appliance fits flush with the wall, and is not an obstacle in the way of house cleaning or moving furniture; the outside plate could be made out of any sort of metal or composition which would match or harmonize with the decorations in the room.

Safety features: This appliance does not protrude into the room and act as an attraction to small children; due to its unique locking device, there is no danger of small children turning on the valve and allowing gas to escape. The box delineated in the drawings eliminates the possibilities of gas accumulation in the wall or floor space in case of leaky valve or connection. The fact that ttns appliance fits flush with the wall and the valve itself is contained within the enclosed metal box in the wall or floor, and is locked closed and cannot be opened until after the cover has been opened, eliminates all possibility of the gas being accidentally turned on, by mopping, cleaning or moving furniture, or by other accidental means, which differentiates it materially from the present type of device. The hazard of personal injury is also eliminated because of the fact that no portion of the device protrudes from the wall, and the possibility of striking a foot or ankle against it is entirely eliminated. There is the additional advantage of the fact the valve cannot be opened when hose or tubing is disconnected, without raising the door which covers the outlet. It is also to be noted this type of gas jet or outlet has advantages over any other type of enclosed appliance, because of its adaptability to the present type of plumbing without adaptations or changes; it is easily applied to present structures as well as new constructions. Simplicity of construction is another claimed advantage for this device.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

The expression wall appearing in the claims is intended to be interpreted in its broader scope to include either a vertical wall with or without a wallboard, or a horizontal wall, such, for instance, as the fioor or ceiling of a room.

I claim:

l. A housed type valve comprising a box having an open front and adapted to be installed in a wall with the open front substantially flush with the wall, a face plate covering the open front of the box, a gas pipe leading to a wall of the box, a gas valve mounted within. said box, said gas valve having a discharge portion and communicating with said gas pipe, said face plate having an opening therethrough adjacent said discharge portion, a movable cover normally closing said opening and giving access to said discharge portion, and valve operating means mounted rearwardly of said face plate and having a manipulating portion projecting through said face plate at a point remote from said cover.

2. A housed type valve comprising a box having an open front adapted to be installed in a wall with the open front substantially flush with the wall, a face plate covering the open front of the box, a gas pipe leading to a wall of the box, a gas valve mounted within said box, said gas valve having a discharge portion and communicating with said gas pipe, said face plate having an opening therethrough, a movable cover normally closing said opening, valve operating means accessible from the outside of said face plate, and interlocking means between said cover and said valve operating means for locking said valve closed when said cover is closed.

3. A housed type valve comprising a box having an open front and adapted to be installed in a wall with the open front substantially flush with the wall, a face plate covering the open front of the box, a gas pipe leading to a wall of the box, a gas valve mounted within said box, said gas valve having a discharge portion and communicating with said gas pipe, said face plate having an opening therethrough. adjacent the discharge portion of said valve, a movable cover normally closing said opening, valve operating means within said box having a manipulating portion projecting through said face plate at a point remote from said cover, and interlocking means between said cover and said valve operating means for locking said valve closed when said cover is closed.

4. A housed type valve comprising a box having an open front and adapted to be installed in a wall with the open front substantially flush with the wall, a face plate covering the open front of the box, a gas pipe leading to a wall of the box, a gas valve mounted within said box, said gas valve having a discharge portion and communicating with said gas pipe, said face plate having opening therethrough, a movable cover normally closing said opening, said face plate having a slotted portion, a valve operating member mounted within said box and projecting into said slotted portion and having a manipulating member accessible exteriorly of said face plate, and means for adjusting said valve operating member inwardly or outwardly with respect to said face plate to align said valve operating member with said face plate.

5. In a valve construction, a face plate, a valve mounted rearwardly of said face plate, gas supply means leading to said valve, said valve having a discharge portion and communicating with said gas supply means, said face plate having an opening therethrough, a movable cover normally closing said opening and giving access to said discharge portion, valveoperating means accessible from the front of said face plate, and interlocking means between said cover and said valve operating means for locking said valve closed when said cover is closed.

6. In a structural assemblage of the class described, in combination, a Wall having, an opening to accommodate a gas delivery hose, a relatively fixed gas supply and cut-off valve sup ported in registry with said opening, said valve including a body having a hose accommodation nozzle, and an. oscillatory plug valve mounted in, said body and provided with an operating stern, a closing plate for said wall opening, said closing plate having a hose accommodation hole and ahinged cover for said hole, a lever pivotally mounted on said cover plate and having operating connection with said valve stem.

7. In a structural assemblage of the class described, in combination, a wall having an opening to accommodate a gas delivery hose, a relatively fixed gas supply and cut-off valve supported in registry with said opening, said valve including a body having a hose accommodation nozzle, and an oscillatory plug valve mounted in said body and provided with an operating stem, a closing plate for said wall opening, said closing plate having a hose accommodation hole and a hinged cover for said hole, a lever pivotally mounted on said cover plate and having operating connection with said valve stem, together with a detent carried by said hinged cover plate, said detent being normally engaged with said lever to retain the lever in a locked position.

8. An enclosed type hose accommodation valve construction comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in a wall opening, said housing comprising iront, back and marginal walls, the front wall having an opening therein, a movable cover normally closing said opening, a gas valve supported and confined wholly within the limits of said housing, said gas valve embodying a body having a gas supply pipe connected thereto, a nozzle in alignment with the opening in said front wall of the housing, a plug valve mounted for oscillation in said body and including an operating stem, manually controlled operating means for said valve mounted on said front wall and having operating connection with said valve stem, and coacting means between the valve operating means and said cover plate locking the valve operating means in closed position until the cover plate is moved to a position to uncover said opening in the front wall.

HERMAN E. MALEAR. 

